Thomas E. "Lipps" Dunphy

1969 - 2025

Evansville, WI - Thomas "Lipps" E. Dunphy, 56, of Evansville, WI, passed away peacefully on November 19 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on July 14, 1969, to Betty and Thomas Dunphy.

Tom was a lifelong resident of Evansville. Growing up on North First Street in the historic district, he spent his childhood outdoors with dirty knees and elbows, racing around the neighborhood with his best friend, Tim Ganoung, and the Waller and Knuckles kids. Mischief seemed to follow him-whether he was creating a pole vault pit in his mother's garden, rigging a zip line from the second-story deck, or launching arrows into the air with his older brothers, which often landed on the neighbors' rooftops.

As he grew older, some of his most treasured memories came from time spent on the "Dunphy Porch" with his brothers-George, Chuck, and Sean-where friends, neighbors, and sometimes even his dad, "The General," gathered for laughter, stories, and good company.

Tom graduated from Evansville High School in 1987, where he was a state pole vault qualifier on the track team and proudly played football and basketball with grit and heart. He attended UW-Whitewater after high school, forming lifelong friendships and collecting stories of memorable shenanigans. Ultimately, though, he found his true calling in the trades.

He became a dedicated journeyman plumber and later a partner at Petterson Plumbing in Evansville. Whether at work or at home, Lipps was the one everyone called when something broke or needed figuring out. He was a natural problem-solver-dependable, talented, and always ready to help anyone who needed his expertise.

Creatively gifted, Lipps was also an artist with a special talent for caricatures. Over the years, he expanded his artistry into woodworking, crafting beautiful furniture alongside his brother George and brother-in-law Dave. He even helped his sister Annie layout and paint the circus mural in downtown Evansville-his contribution, the trombone-playing monkey, remains a favorite of children throughout town.

You could often find Lipps at Union Tavern or the Thirsty Possum, wearing his classic work clothes, boots, and hat, where he would catch up with the locals to check in on the recent news. He had a genuine, kind and welcoming spirit, making people feel special by giving them a silly nickname or just carrying on a simple conversation. But he was also a jokester, sarcastic, and loved to dance. He would never turn down a good polka with his mom Betty or his aunt Sylvia. His funny nickname was one people remembered after meeting him just once. He was recently featured in Union Tavern's popular "documentary," Da Union, where his smiling face and laid-back nature appear in the opening, middle, and closing scenes.

A lover of yacht rock and all things relaxing, Tom found joy in life's simple pleasures. He loved watching the Badgers and Packers, playing golf-known for his monster swing, which was occasionally a bit out of control-and looked forward every week to Men's League on Wednesday nights, where friendly banter with friends was half the fun. He was also an exceptional cook who could whip up impressive dishes for family gatherings, often dominating in friendly cooking competitions.

Above all, Lipps was a devoted father who adored his four children. He spoke often and proudly of their kindness, intelligence, and unique talents. He cherished deep conversations with Laney; admired Sam's creativity in film production and stage art; celebrated Mike's growing success in theater; and was endlessly impressed by Ella's writing and artwork, believing her abilities were well beyond her years. His children were his greatest joy and the legacy he cherished most.

Tom is survived by his four children: Delaney, Samuel, Michael, and Gabriella; his mother, Betty Katzenmeyer; his siblings, Susan Buchanan, Charlie Dunphy, Jennifer (Dave) Janecek, Josh (Donna) Dunphy, and Annie (Mitch) Larson; stepbrothers Nate and Scott; and many nieces and nephews: DJ, Tommy, Tristen, Matthew, Haley, Jayden, Matt, Jacob, Sara, Kerri, Sayer, and Maddon. He is also survived by his lifelong best friend, Tim Ganoung.

He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Dunphy; his brother, Sean Dunphy; and his stepfather, Kent Katzenmeyer.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at the Red Barn from 12:00 PM to 4 PM with a brief service and sharing of memories at 2 PM. Ward-Hurtley Funeral Home is assisting the family. www.wardhurtley.com

The family extends heartfelt thanks for the love, support, and prayers shared during this time. Your kindness means more than words can express. Lipps will be deeply missed and never forgotten. In lieu of gifts or donations, the family simply asks for your presence, friendship, and shared memories.